2019-2022 Federal Legislation
The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce advocates to ensure that your business has the best chance to grow, and that policies have a positive impact on our community.
Government policy has the ability to impact your business drastically. New laws can either put up barriers for growth, or open new roads to success. With our voice, we advocate on behalf of the Metro Maryland business community.
Learn more about our current policy positions.
Learn more about our current policy positions.
COVID-19
The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) understands the impact of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic on the business community. MCCC is engaged with policymakers at the federal, state, and local levels of government as they determine ways to assist the business community in navigating this evolving situation. View our Resources for Businesses Impacted by COVID-19 (Coronavirus).
- On March 15, 2021, MCCC released a statement in support of a mass vaccination site in Montgomery County, Maryland.
- On December 3, 2020, MCCC signed on to a letter from the Greater Washington business community, urging our region's Congressional leaders to provide additional federal relief and recovery funding to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- On August 6, 2020, MCCC signed on to a letter from the American Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives to Congressional leadership. This letter address the CARES Act and our concerns surrounding cultural institutions, including non-profit museums, aquariums, zoos, and performing arts centers.
- On July 15, 2020, MCCC joined the Montgomery Moving Forward Early Care and Education Workforce Advocacy Coalition Members in seeking Senator Chris Van Hollen's commitment to the HEROES Act and the "Child Care is Essential Act." Read the letter.
- On May 6, 2020, MCCC joined chambers of commerce across the country to highlight gaps in the CARES Act, particularly pertaining to cultural institutions such as aquariums, zooms, and performing arts centers.
- On March 20, 2020, MCCC sent a letter to the Senate Small Business Committee regarding the impact of the coronavirus on government contractors. We received over 200 signatories in under 24 hours.
- MCCC joined 22 business organizations in sending a letter to DC Area Congressional Delegations regarding economic relief legislation.
Federal Government Contracting
Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriations
Summary: On January 13, 2022, MCCC's GovConNet Council sent a letter to Chairs and Ranking Members of both the House and Senate Appropriations Committee regarding FY22 Appropriations. In the letter, the GovConNet Council encourages the members to consider the impact of an extended continuing resolution (CR) on the federal government contracting community, while urging them to fund the rest of FY22 through an omnibus bill.
Summary: On January 13, 2022, MCCC's GovConNet Council sent a letter to Chairs and Ranking Members of both the House and Senate Appropriations Committee regarding FY22 Appropriations. In the letter, the GovConNet Council encourages the members to consider the impact of an extended continuing resolution (CR) on the federal government contracting community, while urging them to fund the rest of FY22 through an omnibus bill.
- Read MCCC's letter to the Chairs and Ranking Members.
H.R.5585: Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H)
Lead Sponsor: Representative Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA)
MCCC Position: Support
Summary: This bill would establish the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Health within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to accelerate health and medical innovation.
Lead Sponsor: Representative Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA)
MCCC Position: Support
Summary: This bill would establish the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Health within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to accelerate health and medical innovation.
H.R.7694 - Strengthening Subcontracting for Small Businesses Act of 2022
Lead Sponsor: Representative Pete Stauber (R-MN)
MCCC Position: Support
Summary: The bill expands the importance of subcontracting plan performance in agency evaluation of offerors and makes this performance a more important factor in winning future work.
Lead Sponsor: Representative Pete Stauber (R-MN)
MCCC Position: Support
Summary: The bill expands the importance of subcontracting plan performance in agency evaluation of offerors and makes this performance a more important factor in winning future work.
- Read MCCC's joint letter of support.
- This letter was also signed by AltoStratus Group LLC, Capital T. Solutions LLC, Institute for Development Impact, U.S. Black Chambers, Inc., and the Women Veterans Business Coalition (WVBC).
S.2024: Interagency Committee on Women's Business Enterprise Act of 2021
Lead Sponsor: Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
MCCC Position: Support
Summary: This bill would reauthorize the Interagency Committee on Women's Business Enterprise (ICWBE). The ICWBE has, in the past, served a vital purpose – to monitor, coordinate, and promote programs within federal agencies that support and strengthen women's business ownership.
Lead Sponsor: Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
MCCC Position: Support
Summary: This bill would reauthorize the Interagency Committee on Women's Business Enterprise (ICWBE). The ICWBE has, in the past, served a vital purpose – to monitor, coordinate, and promote programs within federal agencies that support and strengthen women's business ownership.
- Read MCCC's joint letter of support.
- This letter was also signed by the California Association for Micro Enterprise Opportunity (CAMEO), GovEvolve, HUZone Contractors National Council, and the Women Veterans Business Coalition.
S.583: Promoting Rigorous and Innovative Cost Efficiencies for Federal Procurement and Acquisitions (PRICE) Act of 2021
Lead Sponsor: Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Representatives Joe Neguse (D-CO) and Maria Salazar (R-FL)
MCCC Position: Support
Summary: This bill would encourage innovation in contracting and expand opportunities for small businesses to work with the federal government. It will require the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to work with federal acquisition administrators to share innovative best practices that will help modernize contracting procedures, realize cost savings for taxpayers, and ensure small businesses have a seat at the table in federal contracting.
Lead Sponsor: Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Representatives Joe Neguse (D-CO) and Maria Salazar (R-FL)
MCCC Position: Support
Summary: This bill would encourage innovation in contracting and expand opportunities for small businesses to work with the federal government. It will require the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to work with federal acquisition administrators to share innovative best practices that will help modernize contracting procedures, realize cost savings for taxpayers, and ensure small businesses have a seat at the table in federal contracting.
Reauthorizing SBA's Contracting Programs
Click here to read Senator Romney's comments during the Senate Small Business Committee hearing on this topic.
Click here to read Senator Romney's comments during the Senate Small Business Committee hearing on this topic.
FY21 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)
Read MCCC's letter to Senator Ben Cardin supporting amendments to the NDAA that provide relief for small business government contractors.
Read MCCC's letter to Senator Ben Cardin supporting amendments to the NDAA that provide relief for small business government contractors.
- February 25, 2020: MCCC submitted a letter to U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar II regarding the cancellation of the HHS Accelerate procurement.
H.R. 953: To prohibit consumer reporting agencies from including adverse information in certain consumer reports, and from making adverse determinations relating to security clearances, with respect to certain individuals affected by the Government shutdown, and for other purposes.
Lead Sponsor: Representative Dwight Evans (PA)
Click here to read MCCC's letter to Rep. Evans in support of this legislation.
S.162: A bill to provide back pay to low-wage contractor employees, and for other purposes.
Lead Sponsor: Senator Tina Smith (MN)
Click here to read MCCC's letter to Senator Ben Cardin regarding this legislation.
Lead Sponsor: Representative Dwight Evans (PA)
Click here to read MCCC's letter to Rep. Evans in support of this legislation.
S.162: A bill to provide back pay to low-wage contractor employees, and for other purposes.
Lead Sponsor: Senator Tina Smith (MN)
Click here to read MCCC's letter to Senator Ben Cardin regarding this legislation.
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Growing the Small Business Supplier Base in Government Contracting
Summary: On October 13, 2021, MCCC Board Member Sophia Tong, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of T and T Consulting Services Inc., testified before the House Committee on Small Business, Subcommittee on Contracting and Infrastructure. The topic was "Growing the Small Business Supplier Base in Government Contracting." |
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Transportation
Capital Crescent Trail (CCT)
Summary: On April 8, 2022, MCCC sent a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. In the letter, MCCC requested his support of Montgomery County’s application for funding of the CCT through the RAISE program.
Summary: On April 8, 2022, MCCC sent a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. In the letter, MCCC requested his support of Montgomery County’s application for funding of the CCT through the RAISE program.
Small Businesses
Section 809 Panel Recommendations
S.771: A bill to amend section 21 of the Small Business Act to require cyber certification for small business development center counselors, and for other purposes.
Lead Sponsor: Senator Marco Rubio (FL)
Click here to read MCCC's letter to Senator Marco Rubio in support of this legislation.
S.772: A bill to amend section 21 of the Small Business Act to require cyber certification for small business development center counselors, and for other purposes.
Lead Sponsor: Senator Marco Rubio (FL)
Click here to read MCCC's letter to Senator Marco Rubio in support of this legislation.
- Joint letter to the Senate Armed Services Committee.
- Joint letter to the House Armed Services Committee.
S.771: A bill to amend section 21 of the Small Business Act to require cyber certification for small business development center counselors, and for other purposes.
Lead Sponsor: Senator Marco Rubio (FL)
Click here to read MCCC's letter to Senator Marco Rubio in support of this legislation.
S.772: A bill to amend section 21 of the Small Business Act to require cyber certification for small business development center counselors, and for other purposes.
Lead Sponsor: Senator Marco Rubio (FL)
Click here to read MCCC's letter to Senator Marco Rubio in support of this legislation.
Small Business Runway Extension Act Information
Transportation
Click here to read MCCC's statement on WMATA (Metro) funding.
